Ergo June 19

A BYTE OF LIFE

Friday, June 19, 2009

06 COMEBACK MAN Nehra rewarded for IPL show Vol. 3

FREE CIRCULATION

No. 114

Neighbours in the time of Orkut An online community is working to improve people-to-people interaction between Indians and Pakistanis, in a bid to change notions » PAGE 04

@twittercamp: r u

READY? You can still make it to Buzz140, the twittercamp organised by Knowledge Foundation this Sunday, to get a hang of the microblogging network that has set the online world abuzz. Buzz140 will take place at Photon Infotech office in Karapakkam on Rajiv Gandhi Salai. It is an all-day event starting at 9.00 AM. The best part about this event is that it is completely free (Except for the US$1 lunch). Prior registration however is required to guage the number of participants and to organize the whole event. Register through: http://twtvite.com/mg32i6.

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ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

For adoption

Namma Chennai

Playful Whiskers and her siblings are identical and adorable. They’re healthy and tend to be a handful when they’re playing. For adoptions, contact Ananya Ashok at 9952040339.

Pop’s the word Pamper your dad this Father’s Day with exciting gifts, a dinner treat or a spa massage

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lay a game together, watch movies, download music or just share some old memories with photos. Xbox 360 promises to be the ultimate stress buster for your dad (Rs. 16,990). If that’s too expensive a gift, checkout some of the latest range of Microsoft’s computer peripherals such as the portable and sleek Arc mouse, priced at Rs. 3612 or the Explorer Mini Mouse that works on 40 different surfaces, available at Rs. 2823.

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hy not treat your family to a laugh riot in celebration of Father’s Day? Evam’s An Idiot for Dinner is an English play based on the French film, A dinner of idiots. Get entertained together at Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium on June 20 at 3.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. For bookings call 98402 22363/ 98406 12333

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ook a special table at Amethyst Cafe and treat to a homely meal comprising chicken roast, soup and goodies, priced at Rs. 490. Or, gift him a range of innovative wine bottles racks, ice-buckets, flower arrangement with pines and lilies. Book your table at 2835 1143

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ake you dad feel extra special with a Father’s Day lunch buffet at Asiana Hotel. Or, make your dad chill out in the Prana Spa or take him for skin fitness facial to rejuvenate and revive your stressed out dad. Call 67411000 to make your reservations

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f your father likes formal wear, choose from the range of belts, coloured cufflinks and ties at Marks & Spencer. And, if casual is his style, go for shorts, handkerchief or polo t-shirts. Gifts are priced from Rs. 345 to Rs. 1395

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PHOTO: R.RAVINDRAN

Friday, June 19, 2009

Just Disc It Cool it this summer with a game of Ultimate Frisbee and join in the Agni Nakshatra newbie tournament DEEPA VENKATRAMAN ■ 37- year- old P Gopi wakes up by 5 am and starts his day by learning to play Ultimate Frisbee for fitness and the love of the game ■ Janani, a professor at KRMMC, has been playing the sport for three months and simultaneously training her team. The college has formed two teams.

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hat fun would it be to learn a new sport, immediately form your team and play a tournament in a month’s time? That’s the spirit of Ultimate Frisbee—a worldwide sought after sport that has caught the craze of Namma Chennai youngsters for the last two years. The Chennai Ultimate Club will be organising a tournament—Agni Nakshatra for newbie on June 27 and 28 at Besant Nagar beach. Tournament coordinator and experienced player Lekhamith-

For the second consecutive year, Chennai Ultimate Frisbee club is going to hold an International Frisbee tournament in October 2009. “We have invited teams fromSingapore, Dubai and Sri Lanka to participate in the tournament. We appeal to the corporate companies for sponsorship,” says Manu Karan, president of the club and veteran player. Those interested to join the tournament contact 9940079016.

ra Shanmugam says, “We wanted to popularise the sport and increase the number of people playing it and hence this tournament was organised. Our experienced players brought in at least fifty newbies for the training camps." There are also teams from colleges—KRMMC and Crescent College of Engineering and Hindustan Engineering College. But the common aspect is that all of them are genuinely interested. In a week’s time Lekhamitra and her teams have managed to form ten teams for the tournament. Ajay John who is training a team from Valmiki Nagar says, “Unlike other complicated sports, this is simple and only needs coordination between players. New players have picked up the skills very fast and all the players are genuinely interested in the game. They do stand a chance of winning the game.” The scorching heat has not deterred these youngsters from learning this sport. One can see 40 enthusiastic energetic players being trained on the forehand throw, backhand throw and cuts at the Valmiki Nagar beach every morning and at the Elliots beach, Besant Nagar on Saturday evenings. Megha Radhakrishnan (23) who has been playing the game for two months says, “Initially it took few days to get the technicalities, but in a month’s time we got the feel of the game and it generates a lot of positive energy. We formed our team two weeks back and we hope to have a perfect chemistry by the tournament.” ■

Celebrate France A festival of music, cuisine and cinema, French Style, will be inaugurated in the city today. Rhapsody at Hotel Marriott and the Alliance Francaise will play host to these events on June 19, 20 and 21.

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BIG STORY

MONISHA MOHANDAS [email protected]

“I

was doing my higher studies at Webster University at the Thailand campus. It was during an international relations class titled ‘Politics of Peace’ that I saw a guy across the table bashing India left and right on the Kashmir issue. Upon enquiry, I found he was from Pakistan,” says Rahul Mukherji, founder of the India-Pakistan Friendship Club. “As days passed by, we heard each other, came out of our pre-set minds,

analysed things and realised how similar our thoughts were towards our respective countries.” Twenty-nine-year-old Rahul Mukherji, a software engineer, always thought beyond software and computers. Inspired by the last song of famous Hindi movie Border, ‘Mere dushman, mere bhai, mere humsaye’, in 2004, he started an online community on Orkut called ‘Indo-Pakistan Friendship Club’ (IPFC). The community now has more than one lakh members, more than 40 percent of which is composed of Pakistanis. “I had no idea that IPFC would grow so big. Now I have many moderators as I couldn’t manage it alone. I thought IPFC is the best way to reach out to people across the border,” says Rahul. IPFC has been successful in attracting attention of people the world over. “Orkut was my first online forum and IPFC my first online community. I grew up hearing all

ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

kinds of stories about India and then when I was in my early teens I started exploring this unwanted animosity between the two countries,” says Haider, an IPFC member from Lahore. “Until a few years ago even I was against Indians, but now I realise it’s the politics and not public who created this acrimony between the two countries.” Not stopping with online forums and chats, IPFC has put its efforts on on-ground activities like serving the needy as IPFCians. Aminur Rashid, a software professional, also a moderator of IPFC, joined this community

quite sceptically but now serves people. “We as IPFCians, with the help of Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy, an NGO working for peace between both nations, donate funds collected from our community members during natural calamities and terrorist attacks and by joining charity organisations,” says Aminur proudly. Collecting funds and distributing them to the intended persons was the toughest part as each member was from a different city. There started their unofficial meetings. Anurag Chaturvedi (29) from Bangalore takes parts in most of these unofficial meetings in his city. “With meetings conducted in a few cities across the world where like-minded people get together, our motive is people-topeople interaction. And we realised that not all Pakistanis are hardliners, they too hate militants and they too like Sachin Tendulkar. The more we realise

this, the less is the misunderstanding.” Overcoming threats from people of both countries, their mission is peace. “Sometimes we hesitate to give our real identity because people threaten us for encouraging friendship between both nations,” says Abhinav Khare, an IPFCian. “We want these mindsets changed and, in fact, many of us are eager to meet our Pakistani friends. Though most Indian members have not met their Pakistani friends, SMSes, online chats and couriering gifts cements their virtual relationship.” ■

Neighbours in the time of Orkut An online community is working to improve people-to-people interaction between Indians and Pakistanis and change set notions

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Puducherry – then and now

Courtesy: Alan Sutton

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f one were to assess the two factors – actual tourism promotion policies and the wordof-mouth form of advertisement – regarding tourism in Puducherry, one would probably have to balance one’s verdict between the two. This is because the expectations created by advertisements are amply fulfilled by the actual experience of sojourning in Puducherry. Visitors, as they saunter through the broad avenues of this coastal town, are pleasantly surprised by the free flow of traffic and by the trees with leafy branches spreading upwards. This impression about Puducherry keeps growing with most of the people who pass through or spend a long time here. What is surprising is that it is not the 21st century visitors alone who have paid ample homage to this coastal town. Right from the 17th century, a regular stream of visitors, consisting of plebeians and dignitaries, have found something very endearing about the place. Apart from the French, the Portuguese, the Danes and the Dutch came here to set up their trade operations. Though they had wanted to make this place their home unexpected circumstances led them to leave after some years. However, it would be the French who would link their ambition and their destiny with the life of the local people. Robert de Challes, a French writer who visited Puducherry in 1690-91, provides us with interesting details about this town in his book Journal D’un Voyage Fait Aux Indes Orientales 1690-91 (Journal of a Voyage in the Indies of the Orient 1690-91). The open

sea, the catamarans with their slender boatmen and the Fort right on the seafront fascinated this man fresh from Paris. In the following century, when more Frenchmen followed suit they marvelled at this coastal town that was trying to replicate the gentle charm of a Mediterranean town. Complaints they had several but somehow the place grew on them and they ended up spending more time here than they had actually planned. Remarkable among the 18th century visitors to Puducherry were the French Indologist Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil Duperron and the as-

tronomer Guillaume le Gentil, a member of the Académie Royale des Sciences. The latter came to Pondicherry first in 1761 at the behest of the King of France to make a detailed study of the passage of Venus across the sun. He recorded his impressions and observations of Indian astronomy, religion and customs of the people on the Coromandel Coast in his book Voyages dans les Mers de l’Inde (Voyages in the Indian Ocean) published in Paris in 1774. Though 18th century Puducherry proved to be a great inspiration for professionals from different walks of life it fared very

badly at the political and the military level. The British in Madras defeated the French in Pondicherry three times and crushed whatever aspi-

rations the Gallic race had for building a French empire in India. From the second decade of the 19th century the French established themselves in an uninterrupted manner till 1954 when they granted de facto freedom to the people of Puducherry. Some count these 150 years of rule without hiatus as the period of actual French rule in India but this would lead to a sterile version of this union territory’s history. In 1962 when the French finally granted independence de jure that Pondicherry (as it was then known) could be sure of its political destiny. Endowed with a history different from the rest of India, Pondicherry has been an irresistible point of attraction for outsiders for centuries. ■ Rita Nath Keshari

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ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

Juninho joins Qatari champions

Sport

Former Brazilian international midfielder Juninho has joined Qatar League champions Al Gharafa after eight successful season with French club Lyon. The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract worth 2.5 million euros ($3.5 million) with the Qatari club on Wednesday, making Al Gharafa his fourth club after stints with Recife and Vasco da Gama in his native Brazil before he moved to France in 2001.

‘IF YOU ARE OUT FOR SO LONG, PEOPLE FORGET’ Thankfully, Nehra wasn’t forgotten

AYON SENGUPTA [email protected]

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egular visits to the doctor’s table cut short a once highly-rated international career for Ashish Nehra. After making his international debut in 1999 during a Test series against Sri Lanka, Nehra came into the reckoning during the tour to Zimbabwe is 2001 and was instrumental in

India picking their first Test series win away from the sub-continent in 15 years. He enhanced his reputation as one of the most promising new-ball bowlers – as his toecrushing late in-swingers, coupled with pace and deadly accuracy harassed the best in the world. “That was like bowling in a dream. But I was unlucky to get injured during the wrong time

of my career,” he says. Fragile and with a slightly doggy runup, he was always susceptible to injuries and hence his first stint at the top level was fruitful but brief. A match-winning six for 23 against England at the World Cup in South Africa in 2003 – the high point of this reign –was followed by his first ankle surgery. Before he recovered fully, Nehra was down with a back in-

jury, but played nevertheless. Midway into the 2005 series in Zimbabwe the same injury forced him to take the flight back home. And another surgery followed in 2006 for a torn ligament followed by an ankle surgery the next year. “The two-year period between 2006 and 2007 was scary. I was recovering from one injury before being pulled into another,” Nehra recalls. “It would be

PHOTO: V.V. KRISHNAN

five to six months, but I was still not playing, while everybody else was. And in today’s world if you are out for so long, people forget. You are just out.” But words of wisdom from fellow speedster Zaheer Khan kept up his spirits. “He (Zaheer) constantly kept in touch and would encourage me to stay positive. He himself had a layoff outside the national side but came back strongly and would always bring that instance up in every conversation,” Nehra says. “Zaheer always said: ‘Don’t be greedy to play for India without getting out of the injury completely’. I am happy I listened to him in the end.” And surely the advice paid off. After a decent IPL I with Mumbai Indians, Nehra switched sides and along with Dirk Nannes formed a dangerous opening pairing for Delhi Daredevils, picking up 19 wickets in 13 outings. He shouldered the workload, bowling 51 overs out of a maximum 52 in his 13 games in the month-long tournament. And, for a change, showed no fatigue and was rewarded with a rare India call-up for the four-match One Day International tour to the West Indies. “Earlier I would play even if the injury was bad. But now I don’t play if something is bothering me. I would fix it before coming back,” the more experienced fast bowler says. The left-armer, still young at 30, has the potential to be the strike bowler for the country again and in the absence of Zaheer Khan and an erratic statemate Ishant Sharma for company, one won’t be surprised if skipper M.S. Dhoni falls back on Nehra’s experience to lead the Indian charge in the Caribbean isles. “I have the experience to shoulder any responsibility and would like to contribute in every way the team management wants me,” he adds with an air of new-found confidence. ■

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Friday, June 19, 2009

‘‘

I don’t agree with this (fatigue) because they are young boys. They are just 22, 23 years old and have just started their career. I know they have played a lot of cricket but not all of them. Probably people like Dhoni, Yuvraj (Singh), Harbhajan (Singh) and Zaheer (Khan) have because they are part of consistent Test team and has done a lot of travelling on the road. This is the age to play, they are 25, 26. Even if you are fatigued, you have to find ways out to get yourself up and going. Sourav Ganguly

Buchannan gets the boot

From dust will they rise again?

After two years of expensive but unsuccessful bid for IPL supremacy, the Kolkata Knight Riders has at last on Thursday sacked controversial Australian coach John Buchanan. Buoyed by the former record breaking Aussie coach, the Kolkata team tried many a “revolutionary” ideas like multiple captaincy but could only drop a few notches to finish last in the recently concluded IPL II after an equally hyped but poor sixth spot in the first edition in India. “Buchanan has informed Knight Riders that despite his hard work over the past two seasons, he has not achieved everything that he set out to,” KKR co-owner and diamond merchant Jay Mehta said in a statement. “We have amicably agreed that Knight Riders will release him from his contract with immediate effect.” Trying to keep a brave face, the team management who have been criticised throughout for their fetish with the underperforming Australian, the statement read: “We would like to state that John is a great coach. He had a vision for Knight Riders and did not waver from this vision. Unfortunately, it has not brought the results that are so necessary to this franchise.” Buchanan, who had a successful eight-year stint as Australia’s national coach, sparked a controversy ahead of this year’s IPL when he floated the multiple captains idea in Twenty20 and effigies of him were burnt in Kolkata by fans of former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who believed the concept was meant to dilute the powers of their popular Prince. Ergo Correspondent

AKSHAY RAMASESHAN

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he Indian cricket team and Rafael Nadal have something in common. Both are world champions, one in the T20 format, the other in the ATP race. Their performances in the recently concluded contests too, were similar. India, the defending champion, entered the tournament as clear favourites. From the day they took to the game’s latest truncated version, they have looked the team to beat, clearly. A sense of exclusive ownership as the format’s big boss prevailed. The rest of the world too bowed in submission in front of the enthusiastic and hard-hitting young Indian team. Similarly, Rafael Nadal, tennis world’s best thing to have stepped on red clay, walked into Roland Garros 2009 as if winning were a mere formality. The muscular Nadal made the surface his own from the very first match he played in 2005. Others, including the great Roger Federer, did not have an answer to this super-human-machine who ran and covered the battlefield like a rabbit would do. There was never a battle. India and Nadal would eventually run out of steam when they were least expected to. India lost the plot in the Super 8 knock-out stage of the World T20 Championships, losing all their games, and Nadal surrendered his empire in the most unconvincing fashion, to a suddenly-someone called Robin Soderling. Both champions lost, as if they wanted to lose. No effort or authority was in display in their screen tests. And both had one thing to blame, fatigue. But in sport, especially internaAP

tional, that’s never really a reason the legion of fans would agree to. May be it was written they should end their domination. May be it was necessary they lost to give more balance to the sport. One thing is for sure, the juggernaut had to come to an end, sooner or later. The road ahead will have to be relaid. The work towards reconstruction will be an interesting period. As generally champions do, both shall re-invent. ■

Women’s hockey team stranded in airport Mismanagement continues to haunt India hockey with the Russiabound senior women’s team made to return from the airport for not having necessary travel documents. The women’s team was scheduled to fly for Kazan, Russia from Delhi in a Lufthansa flight last night to take part in the Champions Challenge tournament, the first qualifying event for Champions Trophy, starting Sunday but they were denied permission to board the plane for not having transit visa to stop over at Frankfurt, Germany. Apparently, the situation arose due to misunderstanding between the central government’s travel agency Balmer Lawrie Ltd and Lufthansa Airlines. “The situation could have been avoided if both the travel agent and the airlines acted in a more professional manner. Since all government-financed foreign tours are handled by the travel agency, the Indian team’s tickets too were booked by them,” Hockey India secretary general Mohammad Aslam said. “We had also sought all-travel related information in advance from them and the agency informed us that Lufthansa officials had told them that transit visas were not required for the Delhi-Kazan flight via Frankfurt. But they later retracted,” he said. PTI

Somdev gets Wimbledon access He missed the bus in singles but entering the main draw of men’s doubles event at Wimbledon has partially healed Somdev Dev Varman’s wound and the youngster is ecstatic with his Grand Slam debut. Somdev and his South African partner Kevin Anderson tamed Italian Alessandro Motti and Joseph Sirianni of Australia 7-6 (7-0) 6-7 (1-7) 8-6 to make the main draw on Wednesday night and the Indian said it partially alleviated the pain of not making to the singles. “It’s an important win for me. Qualifying for Wimbledon feels pretty good. I would have loved to have qualified in the singles event also, but I guess this makes up a bit for that disappointment. I was disappointed with the singles loss, doubles qualification does add a healing touch,” Somdev said. Somdev failed for the third time in the year to make the main draw of the singles event of a Grand Slam when he lost the first round of the qualifying event of Wimbledon. PTI

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Fringe benefits The fringe dress is now occupying centrestage

Sharon Stone

Nicole Kidman with Hugh Jackman

S

o far, the fringe cam and leather trimming from bags, boots and might also recall the tax. Now, though, the m the lot is the fringe dress. The fringe dress is the sp of the traditional shift dre encasing than its forme fringe dress’s biggest adv the fringes automatically to the garment, irrespecti cut otherwise. While Sien did a floor-length version with trousers, bowler hat, fringe dress is distinctly s knee-length or above. Designers like Karen Mil patronised by Eva Longor Jasmine di Milo (mom-to-b favourite due to the dres ing ability) are particular for their fringe dresses. Al spring 2009 collection com neat collection of fringe dr ised further by model Lily lie’s Angels star Bohemia-influenced design pore’s ‘Nefertiti’ fringe dre popular too. Among Indian designers mar does pretty fringe dres Mughda Godse at the L Week finale last October. Other celebs spotted in are Nicole Kidman, Van Sharon Stone, Cannes jury Argento and Terminator Moon Bloodgood. In mo seemed a favourite, be floor-length Reem Acra dre Prada, with Argento’s red mani Privé being an exce easily remain so. ■

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Mughda Godse in a Narendra Kumar creation at LFW

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Portfolio BULLETIN Hats always take centrestage at the Royal Ascot in England. Here’s presenting the ridiculous, smart and pretty, in whichever order:

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An Iris van Herpen creation

Terminator Salvation star Moon Bloodgood in Reem Acra. PHOTO: AFP

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

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Flick Why John Abraham learnt Quran Not knowing a single word of the Quran, the Bollywood actor, a Parsi, studied the holy book in a translation to prepare himself to play an NRI Muslim in the upcoming flick New York

“I

t’s part of my larger determination to prepare myself completely for a part. Whether it was New York or now Abbas Tyrewala’s film, I’m taking time off to prepare for the film and the character. The audience today understands an honest film. That’s what I want to give,” actor John Abraham said. Earlier John learnt to play the flute, the Sanskrit language and how to wear a dhoti to give his character, Narayan, conviction in Oscar-nominated Water, a film about the plight of widows in pre-Independence India. “I only want to do roles that take me out of my comfort zone. Through my characters and performances, I want to make people comfortable with what makes me uncomfortable as a human being and an Indian,” said Abraham, who believes that an actor has to break through his own stereotypes. He tried to break his image by doing films like Water, No Smoking and Kabul Express. Says one of Abraham’s close friends of New York: “He went very deep into the film’s theme of Islamic isolation. When he shot Kabul Express with Kabir Khan in Afghanistan, John spoke to people....and began to understand the concept of jehad. He understood how dangerous it is to fight for a cause without knowing the history of that cause. “He went on the net, found legitimate and proper translations of the Quran. He learnt the proper pronunciations of

words in the Quran”, the friend said. In New York, Abraham plays a character who is wrongly detained in the US for terrorism. “John researched rigorously on Islam and its various aspects. His character in New York is wrongly detained for terrorism. John based his character on three such real-life Muslims taken into custody in the US for wrongs they hadn’t committed. “John and director Kabir Khan amalgamated the cases of three such unfortunate people to create John’s character. He actually lived, breathed, slept and wept like someone who had been wrongly ostracised,” said the friend. So traumatised was the actor by the experience that he went into a complete shell in Philadelphia, where New York was shot. “He wouldn’t talk to people. He was completely in his own shell. It was a life-changing experience. Today, John knows what it feels to be a Muslim and a target of ceaseless suspicion and hostility in the US. “He also empathises closely with the issue of Indian students being racially abused in Australia after playing an Indian abused in New York. He understands the isolation of the minority. To a large extent, John has been a part of a minority from his birth,” said the friend. Releasing June 26, the film also stars Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan. IANS

Earlier John learnt to play the flute, the Sanskrit language and how to wear a dhoti to give his character, Narayan, conviction in Oscar-nominated ’Water’

AFP PHOTO

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Jacko on ‘disabled child hunt’

Salman is not my boyfriend German Model Claudia Ciesla rubbishes reports that she was the reason behind SalmanKatrina split

Thoranai, Shriya’s latest movie, is a dud at the box office but for ad makers she is hot property. The actor recently came out with a statement that she will not endorse any soft drink brand. Reason: A mother told Shriya that her child started consuming more of a soft drink which Shriya endorsed long time back. Sources say that a soft drink ad fetches actors Rs. 5-6 million for four to five days of shoot.

Roma’s second innings

PTI PHOTO

IANS

Cine City

Shriya’s no to soft drinks ad

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erman supermodelturned-actress Claudia Ciesla, who was rumoured to be dating Bollywood star Salman Khan, recently visited the Hanuman temple in New Delhi to pray for the success of her film Karma: Crime, Passion, Reincarnation. The film about reincarnation that released all over India June 12 is a dramatic thriller about an Austrian girl (Claudia) who is raped and murdered during her visit to India in the 1970s and how she is reborn and comes back to the same place after 30 years. The 22-year-old was in the capital to promote the film, which is directed by M.R. Shahjahan. Apart from praying and promoting her movie, Claudia also spoke of the rumours linking her to Salman. She rubbished reports in a leading daily that had reported that she was Salman’s new muse and the reason behind the Salman-Katrina split saying: “Salman and I are just good friends. He is not my boyfriend, as has been reported here. Everyone knows that it’s Katrina Kaif who is his girlfriend and not me. I haven’t even been that long in India to start controversies.”

Michael Jackson is reportedly on the lookout for a child who is missing limbs or in a wheelchair to share the stage with him during his comeback concerts in London. The King of Pop is due to kick off his much-awaited 50-show run at the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena next month.

Actor Roma Asrani, who rocked the Malayalm film industry with movies like Notebook and Chocolate, is all set for her second innings in Kollywood. Vanchikottai Vaaliban, her second movie in Tamil, will see her paired opposite director P.Vasu’s son Sakthi. Touted to be a romantic entertainer with a message, the movie will be directed by S.K. Jeeva and the music is by newcomer Sadaga Paravaigal Shankar. Vanchikottai Valiban is being produced by Krithika and Bhagavath Singh under the banner Gandharva Celluloid Creators.

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ERGO Friday, June 19, 2009

Thursday’s Query: Your favourite vehicle on which you like to take your partner on a long ride? ■ Cycle without the carrier Thirumal 3i Infotech, Guru, Nasurudeen, Suresh Allsec, Vasanth Softeon, Ravi, Kavitha TCS, Pinky, Sugan IBM, Yuva CSS, Anto Wipro, Lavanya Steria, Senthil Arjunan Calsoft Ltd, Bala Spryance, Dhandapani HCL, Saravana STI Software Solutions, Suri Infosys, Vignesh RRD

■ Parachute Midhun.C, Jinu.C Allsec, Muthukannan TCS

■ Horse riding Santhoshkumar Perotsystems, Deena Wipro, Saranya.M Cognizant

■ Thunderbird Kannan.NS FSS, Karthik.VK TCS-eserve

■ Bullock cart Sharique IBM, Kuppusamy Nattudurai, Maithily, Rajadurai CSS, Prabu RRD, Karthikeyan Allsec, G.Sudha Cognizant, Venkatesan, Sampathkumar, Sindhujaa, Adiseshu.K Wipro, Vignesh.S Sutherland

■ Karizma

■ Titanic ship Lavanya, IBM

P. Bala from Perotsystems has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This picture was clicked at Black Thunder during their outing.

■ Space ship Livingson Allsec Technologies

■ Honda Unicorn Karthik Deenadayalu Tata Consultancy Services

■ Pulsar Hariharan.R Infoview Technologies, Sivakumar, R.Pandian Perotsystems, Dhivya, Anbu Wipro, Sukhanya.P Cognizant, Suresh TCS, Karthik Infosys, Chital Accenture, Ramyaa.H HCL Nikhil Joy Allsec

■ TVS 50 K.Sivaramakrishnan Allsec, Anbu, Venkat Wipro, Shahjahan IBM

■ The famous, romantic and the unbeatable "Karakattaran car"(of course with its music) Vinitha HCL Technologies

Selva Infosys, Don Rajiv Allsec Muralikumar Verizon

■ Honda Civic Soumya HCL, Karthikeyan Wipro

■ Black Scorpio Vidya, Arun, Karthik CSS

■ Lamborghini Raghav TCS, Karthik.SS CSS

■ Cadillac Sripradha Chakravarthy, Infosys

■ Fentom

Hemalatha from TCS has nominated her friends as Partners in Crime. This picture was taken at Chennai One office.

Aakash CSS

■ Ducati Madhu, Allsec Technologies

■ Royal Enfield Mohan Sridhran Tata Consultancy Services

■ Road roller Rajesh Allsec, Thangamariappan Wipro

■ BMW 7 series Jacob Lesly, HCL Technologies

■ MTC bus Anandakrishnan, Ford

Today’s Query: Remember the pocket money which your dad used to give during your college days. Share with us the excuses you gave your dad to get more money from him.

Vinoth Kumar V. from Wipro Technologies has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. The photo was clicked during Onam celebrations in their campus.

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Friday, June 19, 2009

June 19 ■ Dinesh, We’re not going to make you roam about the whole office like we did last time. After all, you’re getting older & we’re minimizing the strain on you:-D 16/6 Issue --> what’s common about the four organizations mentioned in page 5? 16/6 Issue --> Title conferred to Vijayakanth 17/6 Issue --> Page 4 - 17th word from bottom right 17/6 Issue --> what does this doodle signify? ’Cmon you didn’t think it was that easy, did you? Break this jumble & claim your gift. Happy B’day!! Eppadikku, Your Friends, Wipro

■ Hi Appa (Selvam), A peck on the cheek, a warm hug, a pat on the shoulder and an assurance of love, and care in your eyes are the most treasured gifts that remain closest to the heart. I Love you, Appa. Happy Birthday Appa. With lots of love, hugs and Kisses Your lovable daughter (Very pride to say S.Abirami, Cognizant

■ Dear Swetha, Wish you a very happy birthday. “May god showers his blessings and give his hand during ur upside downs and keeps u blessed forever “ By Ur ever loving hearts, Vasudevan, Reavathy Vasudevan Keerthana, Joe

■ Hi Aishu, On your birthday, we would like to wish you great days ahead! May all your hours be filled with joyful moments! Whatever you wish, may be granted!!! Many many more happy returns of the day Aish! Keep smiling forever… With love, Cbeyonders. Cognizant Technology Solutions, Siruseri

■ Dear Sheeba JhansiRani Hope this birthday is the best one for you in every delightful way. So happy birthday to you Sheeba. Have lots of birthday fun! May your birthday wishes all come true, even if you have a tons of wishes to do:-) With Friendship and Prayers, Gandhimadhi, Archana, Prem Kumar, Rajesh,Vignesh, Perot Systems

■ Dear Rosh, You are the Code, You are theTalker, You are the Business, You are the Object, You are the Information, You are the developer, You are the light(Roshni) of the project, Iniya Piranda Naal Nal Vazhthukal Many Many More Bright

Happy Returns Of The Day!! Regards, ITAMO Tata Consultancy Services, Tidel Park

■ Hi Boopathi, Look outside its so pleasant moments sun is smiling with you trees dancing for you birds singing for you because last night i asked them all to wish you happy birth day! Iwish you happy birthday i wish you many more, i wish you peace and happiness.... Best Wishes from Thivya

■ Dear Suganya, Wishing you a very happy birthday. Let this day brings you lots of happiness and success in future. May God keep you in good health and spirit. Have a great year ahead. Best Wishes, Vinod

■ Hi Arun "Every year, on your birthday, We think about how glad we are that you were born, how thankful we are to have you in our lives. Every year is another year filled with the special joys you bring just by being yourself. Every year, when you open your birthday gifts, realize what a gift you are to everyone who knows you, especially us. Happy Birthday! Have a blast... Forever Friends Devi, Suja and the rest of us...." Many Thanks, Steria

■ Dear Bagyaraj, "Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." - Franz Kafka . No doubt the verse is especially written about you.. Your cool attitude and happy nature makes us feel jealousy... On your birthday, we send our wishes as blessings to keep you as yourself forever.. Enjoy your day with happy and smile.. Hope you will have a different birthday this year with your fiancée.. Advance Birthday Wishes dear friend.. With love, S20 Terrors, CTS, Siruseri

■ Dear Abi, May this special day be filled with sweet memories and happy hours. Wishing you all the fun and excitement that only birthdays can bring. With cheers, FT team & Gone Aways team

■ Dear Uma, I’m so blessed 2 have a friend like u this comes with many loving thoughts & warm wishes to u may ur day be filled with laughter & may the finest things in life always come ur way happy birthday! Many More Happy Returns of the day! Wth Lots of Luv, Sumalatha, Polaris

■ Dear Karthik VK, My Hearties B’day Wishes To You. May your each second and minute filled with delight. With lots of love Priyachitra S S, Tata Consultancy Services

■ Dear Chirala Chinakuyil Many more happy returns of the day and have a KEWL life ahead. Dont worry abt this year and next election def. TDP is goin to RULE... so nzoy the day with blasty friends @ appdev... From Huge fans of Applied Development Software India Pvt. Ltd., Elnet, Chennai

■ Dear Venu, A friend is someone who shares unconditionally..Someone to laugh and to cry with.. Someone to lean on, through both the good and the bad times.. A friend.... is what you are to us.. U mean a lot to us... We wish ur life to be filled with lots of fun and joy.. Janmadhina Subhakankshalu... Happy Birthday Venu :-) With Love, Ramya, Kokila, Claudi, Vijay, Seelam, Padma, Hemanth, TCS

■ Dear Nandini, Happy birthday to you. may you have many more. you have been a great friend to me. i have a little wish, may we be friends, till the world ends. by Zoho Creator Team, Chandru, Alex, Fathima, Dinesh, Zoho CORP

■ Hi Lakshman, Anbu Nanba!! Innia piranthnaal vaalthukkal. Vaazhkai sirappudan amaya en ullam kanintha vaalthukkal Saxena, Steria (Barclay’s Team)

■ Dear Senthil, Your Hard Work and Dedication has resulted in your success! Heartiest Congratulations as you complete 3 Successful years at Wipro!! The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators!! It is clearly not the journey for everyone. People succeed in as many ways as there are people. Some can be completely fulfilled with destinations that are much closer to home and more comfortable. To within, a whisper of your own personal perfection, to places that are sweeter because you worked so hard to arrive here. May the almighty shower his choicest blessings upon you. And may you achieve whatever you dream..Congratulation and Best Wishes in the years to come!!! Warm Regards, Bindu

■ Hi Harshu Wish U Happy Birth DayBe happy

always and learn new and exciting things this year also (as u learnt editing the photographs last year). With lots of Love Ravi Rachannavar TCS Chennai

■ Dear Venu (DBG), "On your birthday we wish you much pleasure and joy; We hope all of your wishes come true. May each hour and minute be filled with delight, And your birthday be perfect for you! " Our heartfelt wishes on ur birthday. Suganya, Rathna, Yogesh, Abhishek

June 20 ■ Dear ammuni (Mundakanni), HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO U Devika. Let the GOD decorate each GOLDEN RAY OF THE SUN reaching u with wishes of Success, Happiness and prosperity 4 U, Wish you a super duper Happy Birthday!!! With lots of love, Bhavani Ananthan. Team-Beacon. HCL Technologies Ltd.

■ Dear Jena, Many More Happy returns of the day. Have great Day. Best Wishes, Karthik Raju & Team, Enzen Technologies Pvt Ltd, Elnet Software city.

June 21 ■ Dear V.GUNASEKAR, We wish many more happy returns of the day. May your acquire all that you desire and each passing year be filled with joy. A special day thats sunshine bright A happy heart thats warm & light may every birthday wish come true. These things r wished just 4 U.. Happy Birthday cheers, S.Durgalakshmi, K.Senthil, R.Gopinath, R.Kalaivani, N.Vanarani, J.Sudha, S.Gayathri, Professional Management Consultants Pvt Ltd.

Belated Wishes ■ Hi Agila , Wish u a many and money more happy returns of the day. May this year brings you more happiness and success for ur carries and life. Regards, LogisAir and BA Team.

■ Dear Shradhardik, We, the customer world lab wish you hearty congrats for the new beginning of your life with Shradha. TREAT ???? Wishes, Customer World Lab

■ Hi Ramya, May good times and great memories be the special gifts that fill your Birthday with happiness. By, Rubesh, Ramya square and Kottee

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Traffic Jam

Navy sprout ban A captain in Britain’s Royal Navy has brought his hatred of Brussels sprouts into the work place - banning them from his warship because he dislikes them so much.

sudoku

U. Vasanth Kumar from Allsec Technologies clicked this photo at Kodaikanal near Guna caves with his Sony DSC H10 cyber shot camera. Hobbies: Electronics, drawing, painting and photography

So you think you would make a terrific photographer but never really had the platform? Mail us your best work and we’ll publish it in this space, with credit. E-mail: [email protected]

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Silly shepherd An accident prone shepherd in Croatia had to be rescued after he followed his flock into a live minefield.

Word’s worth Agamous (ag-uh-mus) an adjective meaning ‘unmarried.’ Useful for single people with nagging relatives. “I’m happy being agamous, really, Aunt Mabel” will have them convinced of your alternative lifestyle (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and with any luck head off further inquiry.

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Avoid speaking out of turn as you may hurt a few egos. Concentrate, and try to finish work as soon as possible as a technical difficulty is likely to play spoilsports at work. Ganesha says, you will experience great conjugal bliss.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Your mind may be very stable and focussed, notes Ganesha. You can be working very hard. As soon as the day is over, you may wish to spend time with your family. In relationship matters, you need to beware of ego issues.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 You may share good intellectual rapport with people working with you. You may be able to get the work done through people working under you. In other words, your team will support you, feels Ganesha. In short, the day ensures smoother sailing today.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Today you can expect to be given charge of a greater responsibility. Ganesha says that being the principal marksman at your office, you may have to do a lot of troubleshooting today. Things at personal front will take a turn for the better.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 Today you will launch yourself at work full throttle. Ganesha says that all the work that will dare to come in your way will be finished. And your skills won’t remain confined to just work. In case you want to express your love to someone, do it today.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

Not a very good day to fix electronic circuits or play around with things which are technically beyond you. Keep your bright ideas to yourself or they may blow on your face. Ganesha advises you to avoid arguments at home.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 Ganesha notes that the scales of your priorities will tilt in favour of work as personal life will take a backseat. This may not go down well with your loved ones. Try to strike a balance between work and family to be on the safer side.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 You will have a lot of work to day and things will get particularly rough while dealing with those working under you. You, however, will be able to address these challenges and will be able to impress your superiors.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 A good day to make a business trip. Your travels will lead to a positive outcome. Your travel plans will not affect your love life, which will be satisfactory as you’ll try very hard to make up for the lost time.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 Ganesha says that you will have to slog a bit at work. A difficult day at work may also affect your personally life. An extra effort will be needed on your part to ensure that the relationship stays on course.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 You may need to beware of those jealous of your progress, especially those at a position higher than yours. Things can turn against you rather dramatically and you need to watch your back. Also, you will try to prevail upon your lover.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 You will be eager to quickly finish your work so that you can rush home and spend as much time as possible with your beloved. Ganesha says that there might be some misunderstanding between you and your colleagues but you need to stay calm. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

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